The Monkeys Paw Lesson Plan

NAME: Shawna Hendrix

Lesson Title: The Monkeys Paw

Grade level: 10

Total Time: 2 Hours

# Students: 26
Learning Goal:
(Content
Standard/
Common Core)

Common Core Standards

Literacy.RL.9-10.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and
analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including
how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an
objective summary of the text.
Literacy.RL.9-10.3: Analyze how complex characters develop over the
course of the text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or
develop the theme.
ACT Standards
CLR 202: Draw simple logical conclusions about the main characters in
somewhat challenging literary narratives.
IDT 501: Infer a central idea or theme in somewhat challenging passages
or their paragraphs.

Target Goal or
Skill:

Students will be able to analyze characters as they develop throughout the

course of a short story and identify central themes of a short story.

Essential
Question(s):

What are the traits of each of the main characters? What evidence do you
have to prove that?
What is a theme? (What are the themes of the short story?)
What is a thematic statement?

Topical
question(s):

If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for? How could
one of those wishes go horribly wrong?
Would you use the monkeys paw? Why/why not?
Who is to blame for what resulted in using the monkeys paw?

Instructional
Objective(s):

Students will learn how to identify theme in a short story and develop
thematic statements. They will be able to analyze characters by drawing
from evidence from the text.

Assessment
Formative Assessment:
(Criteria / Look
Day One: Class discussion, quick write
Fors/ Performance Day Two: Class discussion, character analysis chart, exit ticket
Tasks)

Summative Assessment:
N/A
Disabilities/Divers
e Needs
Represented
Student
Accommodations
and/or
Modifications
Instructional
Procedures
(including specific
times)
Introduction:
(including
motivational hook
where applicable)

Learning
Activities:

Adapted version: http://eflshorts.com/the-monkeys-paw/

DAY ONE
Introduction:
T: If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for?
Learning Activities:
T: Have students write down their three wishes on a sheet of paper. Share
some as a class.
T: Show the A Million Bucks Geiko commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhKXEnI59jg
T: Quick write: Pick one of your wishes and write an instance in which
your wish could go horribly wrong. Turn and talk. Share a few as a class.
T: Handout Character Analysis chart and discuss example. Have
students underline key quotes that would reveal a trait of a particular
character.
T: Begin reading The Monkeys Paw. Use popcorn reading. Have
students begin filling out the character chart as they read.

Closure:

Closure:
T: Continue working on Character Analysis chart. Consider how the
characters change throughout the story. Talk with a partner about what
you wrote after you are finished.
DAY TWO
Introduction:
T: Review of The Monkeys Paw
Learning Activities:
T: Break into groups of four. Assign each group a character to analyze.
Discuss as a group. Whole class share.
T: Brief review of Theme (PowerPoint)

T: Discuss the themes found in the story.

Closure:
T: Exit Ticket: On a notecard, write down themes and thematic statements
for The Monkeys Paw.
Language
Demands:
Function
Vocabulary
Syntax
Discourse

Function: Reading The Monkeys Paw to analyze characters and

understand theme.
Vocabulary: Theme, characterization
Syntax: Sentences (short story)
Discourse: Small group discussion (turn and talk), large class discussion,
quick writes

5 Questions
(Blooms or DOK)

DOK 1: What is a theme?

DOK 1: How do you identify a theme?
DOK 1: How would you write a thematic statement?
DOK 3: What facts would you select to support your analysis of the
character?
DOK 3: What would happen if one of your wishes came true but went
horribly wrong?

Curriculum (APA)
e.g.
Investigations in
Number, Data,
and Space.
(2012). Pearson.

Materials

The Monkeys Paw

http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/creating/downloads/The_Monkey's_Paw.p
df
Character Analysis Handout

Notes

Additional questions:
Why does the story start with the father and son playing chess?
How does the setting create suspense?
Can you identify any elements of foreshadowing in the text?